Liber Thobis, 6

1. Et cessavit plorare.

1. Now as they proceeded on their way they came at evening to the Tigris river and camped there.

2. Et profectus est puer et angelus cum illo; et canis exiit cum illo et secutus est eos. Et abierunt ambo, et comprehendit illos prima nox; et manserunt super flumen Tigrin.

2. Then the young man went down to wash himself. A fish leaped up from the river and would have swallowed the young man;

3. Et descendit puer lavare pedes in flumen, et exsiliens piscis de aqua magnus volebat gluttire pedem pueri, et exclamavit.

3. and the angel said to him, "Catch the fish." So the young man seized the fish and threw it up on the land.

4. Et ait illi angelus: “Comprehende et tene!”. Et comprehendit puer piscem et eduxit illum in terram.

4. Then the angel said to him, "Cut open the fish and take the heart and liver and gall and put them away safely."

5. Et dixit angelus illi: “Exintera hunc piscem et tolle fel et cor et iecur illius et repone ea tecum et interanea proice. Sunt enim fel et cor et iecur eius ad medicamentum utilia”.

5. So the young man did as the angel told him; and they roasted and ate the fish. And they both continued on their way until they came near to Ecbatana.

6. Et exinterans puer piscem illum collegit fel, cor et iecur; et piscem assavit et manducavit et reliquit ex illo salitum. Et abierunt ambo pariter, donec appropinquarent ad Mediam.

6. Then the young man said to the angel, "Brother Azarias, of what use is the liver and heart and gall of the fish?"

7. Et tunc interrogavit puer angelum et dixit ei: “Azaria frater, quod remedium est in corde et iecore piscis et in felle?”.

7. He replied, "As for the heart and liver, if a demon or evil spirit gives trouble to any one, you make a smoke from these before the man or woman, and that person will never be troubled again.

8. Et dixit illi: “Cor et iecur piscis fumiga coram viro aut muliere, qui occursum daemonii aut spiritus nequissimi habet, et fugiet ab illo omnis occursus, et ne maneant cum illo in aeternum.

8. And as for the gall, anoint with it a man who has white films in his eyes, and he will be cured."

9. Et fel ad inungendos oculos hominis, in quos ascenderunt albugines, ad flandum in ipsis super albugines, et ad sanitatem perveniunt”.

9. When they approached Ecbatana,

10. Et postquam intravit in Mediam et iam appropinquabat ad Ecbatana,

10. the angel said to the young man, "Brother, today we shall stay with Raguel. He is your relative, and he has an only daughter named Sarah. I will suggest that she be given to you in marriage,

11. dixit Raphael puero: “Thobia frater!”. Et dixit ei: “Ecce ego”. Et dixit illi: “In eis, quae sunt Raguel, hac nocte manere nos oportet. Et homo est propinquus tuus et habet filiam nomine Saram,

11. because you are entitled to her and to her inheritance, for you are her only eligible kinsman.

12. sed neque masculum neque filiam aliam praeter Saram solam habet, et tu proximus es illius prae omnibus hominibus, ut possideas eam; et iustum est, ut possideas, quae sunt patri eius. Et haec puella sapiens et fortis et bona valde, et pater ipsius diligit illam”.

12. The girl is also beautiful and sensible. Now listen to my plan. I will speak to her father, and as soon as we return from Rages we will celebrate the marriage. For I know that Raguel, according to the law of Moses, cannot give her to another man without incurring the penalty of death, because you rather than any other man are entitled to the inheritance."

13. Et dixit: “Iustum est, ut accipias illam. Et audi me, frater, et loquar de puella hac nocte, ut accipiamus illam tibi uxorem et, cum reversi fuerimus ex Rages, faciemus nuptias eius. Scio autem quoniam Raguel non potest denegare illam tibi. Novit enim quia, si dederit illam viro alteri, morte periet, secundum iudicium libri Moysis, quia tibi aptum est accipere hereditatem et filiam illius magis quam omni homini. Et nunc, frater, audi me, et loquemur de hac puella hac nocte et desponsabimus illam tibi et, cum reversi fuerimus ex Rages, accipiemus illam et ducemus eam nobiscum in domum tuam”.

13. Then the young man said to the angel, "Brother Azarias, I have heard that the girl has been given to seven husbands and that each died in the bridal chamber.

14. Tunc respondens Thobias dixit Raphael: “Azaria frater, audivi quoniam iam tradita est viris septem, et mortui sunt in cubiculis suis noctu; cum intrabant ad illam, moriebantur. Audivi etiam quosdam dicentes quoniam daemonium illos occidit;

14. Now I am the only son my father has, and I am afraid that if I go in I will die as those before me did, for a demon is in love with her, and he harms no one except those who approach her. So now I fear that I may die and bring the lives of my father and mother to the grave in sorrow on my account. And they have no other son to bury them."

15. et timeo nunc, quoniam diligit illam et ipsam quidem non vexat, sed eum, qui illi voluerit propinquare, ipsum occidit. Unicus sum patri meo; ne forte moriar et deducam patris mei vitam et matris meae cum dolore super me in sepulcrum eorum. Sed neque alium filium habent, qui sepeliat illos”.

15. But the angel said to him, "Do you not remember the words with which your father commanded you to take a wife from among your own people? Now listen to me, brother, for she will become your wife; and do not worry about the demon, for this very night she will be given to you in marriage.

16. Et dixit illi angelus: “Non es memor mandatorum patris tui, quoniam praecepit tibi accipere uxorem ex domo patris tui? Et nunc audi me, frater: noli computare daemonium illud, sed accipe illam, et scio quoniam dabitur tibi hac nocte uxor.

16. When you enter the bridal chamber, you shall take live ashes of incense and lay upon them some of the heart and liver of the fish so as to make a smoke.

17. Et, cum intraveris in cubiculum, tolle de iecore piscis et cor et impone super cinerem incensi. Et odor manabit, et odorabitur illud daemonium et fugiet et non apparebit circa illam omnino in perpetuo.

17. Then the demon will smell it and flee away, and will never again return. And when you approach her, rise up, both of you, and cry out to the merciful God, and he will save you and have mercy on you. Do not be afraid, for she was destined for you from eternity. You will save her, and she will go with you, and I suppose that you will have children by her." When Tobias heard these things, he fell in love with her and yearned deeply for her.

18. Et, cum coeperis esse cum illa, surgite primum ambo et orate et deprecamini Dominum caeli, ut detur vobis misericordia et sanitas. Noli timere; tibi enim destinata est ante saeculum, et tu illam sanabis, et ibit tecum, et credo quoniam habebis ex illa filios, et erunt tibi sicut fratres. Noli computare”. Et cum audisset Thobias sermones Raphael quoniam soror est illius et de semine patris illius, dilexit eam valde, et cor eius haesit illi.

18.